Griffin McKenzie signed a letter of intent to play for Xavier on Nov. 11, 2009. / The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Related Links

The Xavier freshman answers kindly when curiosity seekers inquire about the June party where he was beaten so badly that he lost consciousness and needed surgery to repair a jaw broken in three places.

He doesn't dwell on the 2.5 days he spent in the hospital recovering from the jaw breaks, a broken nose, and four missing teeth.

McKenzie would prefer not to think about the eight weeks his jaw was wired shut or the fact that six months later, he still has nerve damage in a small area from his chin to his right cheek where he can feel nothing.

"Me and my family just really - after the initial shock and anger and just kind of the acceptance of what had happened - we really just try to move forward. There's nothing that's going to change what had happened," McKenzie said.

Since moving to a Xavier dorm in July, McKenzie has assumed the life of any first-year college student and basketball player. The Moeller grad has been adjusting to life after high school, taking classes and angling for playing time through practice.

The legal system, he said, will take care of the rest.

This is his story.

'I was just knocked out'

Court documents paint a grim picture of what transpired that June night. They allege that a juvenile invited friends to her parents' Sycamore Township home - while the parents were out of town - following a Riverbend Music Center concert the night of June 18.

It was there that Jonathan Spatz, 22, of Indian Hill, threatened two male juveniles and prevented them from leaving the property about 2 a.m., court documents allege.

McKenzie said he intervened to "defend the two Moeller students who were being harassed."

Spatz and a juvenile then repeatedly punched McKenzie in the head, court documents allege.

But why?

McKenzie believed it to be a case of mistaken identity. Some high school and college-aged kids, he said, erroneously thought one of the Moeller students had been involved in a previous run-in at a different concert.

After they "got in the (Moeller) kid's face" June 19, McKenzie said he stepped in - and that, he said, escalated an already hostile environment.

"I was actually still barefoot. I didn't even know what was going on. I was in the pool," McKenzie said. "Five minutes later, I was just knocked out."

The 6-foot-9 McKenzie said it started as a nine-on-three battle. Eventually, he said he was "being attacked by five guys."

"I didn't have any time to really defend myself just because of the angles that they hit me from," McKenzie said. "And I never even really got to defend myself like in any sort of aggressive manner to where I was able to strike back. It just happened really quickly."

He said he fell back against a car when he was knocked unconscious. They "just kept drilling me in the face" after that because he somehow was propped up against the vehicle, he said.

Then, when he hit the ground, he said they kicked his face.

It was only later, long after his friends drove him to a nearby hospital, that McKenzie grasped the reality of what happened.

"For me and my friends, it was pretty unprecedented. No one's ever been just beaten up that bad," McKenzie said. "I was just shocked. I mean, everyone was just kind of shocked."

Comeback bid

Moeller basketball coach Carl Kremer rushed to the hospital as soon as he learned the news. He was relieved to hear McKenzie had not suffered brain damage.

And then he was angry.

McKenzie, Kremer said, is not the "kind of kid who goes out and looks for this kind of situation." Kremer said McKenzie is the type of kid who would be a peacemaker rather than an instigator.

"He admittedly has a mature way beyond his years and is very responsible. He's not a loud and boisterous kid. I wouldn't call him quiet - but I would say he's measured in a lot of what he does," Kremer said.

Months earlier McKenzie had been at the top of his high school game, averaging 11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while helping the Crusaders to a 22-5 record and state runner-up finish.

Within days of the incident he was physically depleted. McKenzie said he quickly dropped 25 pounds and struggled to keep down his basic diet of rice protein.

Xavier coach Chris Mack wasn't sure McKenzie would be in any shape for his first college basketball season, so the coach opted for a wait-and-see approach in terms of red-shirting him.

Then McKenzie surprised everyone.

After eight weeks of "not doing anything," he said - not even lifting light weights - he went to Xavier with purpose. He ate everything he could once his jaw wires were removed and immersed himself in a new college diet and weight lifting.

His body responded so well that he packed on a total 41 pounds from his lowest point (184 pounds) until now (225).

"I really thought when it first happened that, 'Wow, he may not be able to play for this year.' I was shocked and surprised by how quickly he gained the weight back and more," Mack said. "He got to a point before the season started where he had never weighed that much. It's a testament to how hard of a worker he is."

XU is now eight games into its season. McKenzie, who has played 10 minutes total in three games, has taken one shot (a 3-pointer miss), grabbed one rebound and turned over the ball once.

McKenzie doesn't make excuses, but he wonders what impact he might have had with a good offseason.

"I never really got the chance to prove my game at all this summer. I was more just concerned with getting back up to where I was before I was injured," McKenzie said.

Mack has seen the forward progress and is looking for more strides in that capacity.

"If we can get him to be physical enough on the defensive end, and to be strong enough with the ball on the offensive end, he can help us," Mack said.

Moving forward

There was a time, XU senior guard Dante Jackson said, when McKenzie was a frail kid who thought he had college hoops figured out. After several months in his new surroundings, Jackson said he has adapted well.

"I really respect him. He's always out there, 35, 40 minutes before practice starts with (associate head) coach (Pat) Kelsey, trying to get better. And he's always asking the coaches what he can do to contribute to this team," Jackson said. "Griffin's going to be, at some point in time, a valuable part to our team."

As he delves into his new college life, McKenzie doesn't concern himself with the legal side of that June night.

Spatz was indicted in Hamilton County for felonious assault, aggravated burglary and two counts of unlawful restraint. His case is pending.

McKenzie filed a civil suit that's also pending.

The only outward indicators of McKenzie's injuries are the false upper teeth he wears (except for games and practices). He's planning to get permanent replacements this spring.

Although there's a metal plate in his face that increases his sensitivity to impact, McKenzie said it doesn't stop him from playing physically.

He doesn't all allow the June incident to stop him, period.

"I don't try to think about it," McKenzie said.

And really, he can't. Final exams are this week, and there's a big game against Wake Forest Saturday night.